{"id":332,"date":"2011-06-24T00:00:10","date_gmt":"2011-06-24T04:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=332"},"modified":"2011-06-24T00:00:10","modified_gmt":"2011-06-24T04:00:10","slug":"day-3-chapter-7-05","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=332","title":{"rendered":"Day 3 – Chapter 7 – 05"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin was walking toward Thom when Kellin caught her by the arm.\u00a0 \u201cWe need a pow-wow,\u201d she murmured.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin blinked at her.\u00a0 \u201cWhen?\u00a0 Now?\u201d\u00a0 She glanced toward Thom.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin winced.\u00a0 If we have it now, he\u2019s going to wonder what the hell we\u2019re talking about and we\u2019ll have to include him and that wouldn\u2019t be productive at all, now would it?\u00a0 If he\u2019s denying everything, he\u2019s not going to be of any help.\u00a0 Not until he knocks it the hell off.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d Kellin said after a moment.\u00a0 \u201cAfter he goes to sleep.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The smell of smoking meat filled the air.\u00a0 Dr. Doyle and Tala were keeping a close eye on the smokehouse they\u2019d rigged up, so they could preserve some of the meat looted from the grocery store before the generators gave out and the meat went bad.\u00a0 Hopefully, it would work.\u00a0 Otherwise, they\u2019d have to start hunting deer sooner than anticipated.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin\u2019s hands balled into fists and Kellin shook her head a little.\u00a0 \u201cYou know how he\u2019ll react.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI know,\u201d she murmured, then exhaled.\u00a0 \u201cDoesn\u2019t mean I like it.\u00a0 What\u2019s wrong?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cWe just need to talk.\u00a0 All of us who can feel it.\u00a0 You and Rory and Drew and Carolyn and I, at the very least.\u00a0 Plus anyone else you think we should include in that number.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin shook her head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 I think that should be all right for the start.\u00a0 Are you sure about Carolyn?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re the one who told me she was Awake, Mar.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.\u00a0 \u201cNo, I know I did.\u00a0 I just\u2026old habits die hard, and I still feel like we should be protecting her.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I wish that was an option.\u00a0 But she needs to walk into this with her eyes wide open.\u00a0 We can help her with that.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cShe can feel it, too, Mar.\u00a0 The light and the dark and the balance.\u00a0 The lines and the boundaries.\u00a0 She feels<\/em> it.\u201d\u00a0 Kellin paused for a moment, then frowned.\u00a0 \u201cWe should set wards.\u00a0 Tonight, if we can.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin blinked.\u00a0 \u201cWhy the sudden urgency?\u00a0 You\u2019re the one who kept saying that nothing would hurt us if we didn\u2019t bother it first.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin winced.\u00a0 I <\/em>did say that, but that was back when we outnumbered them.\u00a0 Now I\u2019m afraid that they outnumber us, and I\u2019m pretty sure right now, they\u2019d have the upper hand.\u00a0 There\u2019s a balance to be maintained, but I don\u2019t like being defenseless, either.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cMaybe I\u2019m worried I\u2019m wrong.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin stared at her for a long moment.\u00a0 \u201cBetter safe than sorry?\u201d\u00a0 She murmured, glancing toward Thom again.\u00a0 He was roughly in the same position he\u2019d been in the last time Kellin had seen him, a few hours before, half buried under several bolts of fleece.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah,\u201d Kellin mumbled, crossing her arms and following Marin\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 Thom was staring blankly at the fire, unmoving.\u00a0 Then he suddenly snapped back to himself and got back to work.\u00a0 Kellin frowned.\u00a0 Either he\u2019s thinking really hard, or\u2026nah.\u00a0 No.\u00a0 That\u2019s Marin\u2019s gift.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s worried,\u201d Marin said quietly, hugging herself.\u00a0 \u201cProbably about everything.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cEverything is a good thing to be worried about.\u201d\u00a0 Kellin shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re all worrying about that, though some parts of that are more immediate than others.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLike wards?\u201d\u00a0 Marin managed a weak smile.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cLike wards.\u00a0 We\u2019d better save the salt, though.\u00a0 I think we salvaged some sage plants from the grocery store.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see what I can do with that.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWards and<\/em> cleansing,\u201d Marin said dryly.\u00a0 \u201cI like it.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, to listen to you, this campus needs a little bit of both.<\/em>\u00a0 Kellin huffed a little and shook her head, crossing her arms.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to save the salt.\u00a0 Sage and some energy will do the trick, unless I\u2019m mistaken.\u201d\u00a0 She frowned a moment.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll talk to Drew.\u201d\u00a0 Drew might have some ideas.\u00a0 I\u2019d talk to Rory, too, but I\u2019m not sure what he\u2019d have to add.\u00a0 Maybe a few things here or there.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have to see.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right, Kel.\u00a0 Sorry.\u201d\u00a0 Marin smiled weakly.\u00a0 \u201cJust a little edgy.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re still worried.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOf course.\u201d\u00a0 Marin rubbed her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s bloody hard.\u00a0 I lay next to him at night and wonder how many more nights we\u2019ve got together.\u00a0 It\u2019s awful.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin squeezed her shoulder and didn\u2019t say anything.\u00a0 The single thing that could crack her in half would be losing him.\u00a0 We can\u2019t afford that\u2014can\u2019t afford to lose him, either.\u00a0 So we\u2019ll just have to make him believe again.\u00a0 Carefully.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI just hate the way it feels sometimes, Kel, that\u2019s all,\u201d Marin whispered, still staring at Thom.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t noticed them looking yet\u2014or if he had, he\u2019d decided to pretend he didn\u2019t.\u00a0 \u201cLike he\u2019s only half with me.\u00a0 It\u2019s not like it was before.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin squeezed again.\u00a0 \u201cI made you a promise, Mar.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be okay.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin wet her lips.\u00a0 \u201cI hope you\u2019re right.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom finally looked at them.\u00a0 He smiled at Marin and waved with the hand he held a pair of heavy sewing shears in.\u00a0 Marin waved back and started over toward him.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t forget, Mar.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t, Kel.\u00a0 Promise.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin nodded to herself and headed over toward her cubby while she had a few minutes to breathe before hunting down something else to do.\u00a0 She\u2019d find a few things for the wardings they\u2019d need to do as soon as they could.\u00a0 The dim across the river made her nervous, probably more nervous than she should be, she admitted to herself, but it was, after all, better to be safe than sorry.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sorry wasn\u2019t something they could afford about now.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0First<\/a> \u2022 Previous<\/a> \u2022 Next<\/a> \u2022 Latest<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin was walking toward Thom when Kellin caught her by the arm.\u00a0 \u201cWe need a pow-wow,\u201d she murmured. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin blinked at her.\u00a0 \u201cWhen?\u00a0 Now?\u201d\u00a0 She glanced toward Thom. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin winced.\u00a0 If we have it now, he\u2019s going … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-7","category-day-3"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-5m","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}